Raisin stemmer



RAISIN STEMMER Filed July ll, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l T www E www m Mem Q A m A0 Wm Y B N n y il f v 155-4: F14 ,mi lllllll M 111111 e1 l \\J,m j Q --j @1A 1 NL/a llv. n od o o o o oo of o o M` M o o .lll f, l l im a M QN Q m Q m Q a m Q Q M m. m 15 w NT n v m m w m IJWTmHZLF Aug. 5, 1941.

Aug. 5,1941. W. K. HINES ETAL 2,251,542 .RAIsIN STEMMER NN I l f Q ATTORNEYS Aug. 5, 1941. l w. K. HlNEs ETAL 2,251,542 RAIsIN STEMMER l v Filed July 11, 1939' s sheets-sheet s INVENTORS WA4 75e f//A/fs THU/7,45 M4 144 FOEEFST @q Mf- ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 5, 1941 unirse stares Parr orrics nAIsrN STEMMER.

Walter K. Hines and Thomas W. W. Forrest, Fresno, Calif., assignors to Sun-Maid Raisin Growers of California, Fresno, Calif., a co-operative association of California Application July 11, 193,9, Serial No. 233,822

8 Claims.

operation, whereby the stems and raisins are readily separated from each other by conventional method. A y'still further object of the invention is improved means for removing stems from raisins without rubbing or rolling the raisins against the stems .or foreign material that normally is present in bunches of unstemmed raisins. Other objects and advantages will appear in the specification and claims .annexed hereto.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine illustrating our invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is asectional view taken along line of Fig. 1.

of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5 5 of Fig. .4.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan View of the invention.

In detail, the machine illustrated in the drawings comprises a horizontally elongated base I, which may be cast in one piece or made up of several elongated members joined together in any suitable manner. A vertically extending support 2 positioned at each end portion of said base is secured at its lower end to said end portion, and from this pair of supports are suspended the moving parts of the apparatus.

Each of the supports is provided with a pair of horizontally spaced bearings 3, supporting shafts 4, 4' therein-at one of .the ends of said shafts. The shafts 4, 4' in each of bearings at each end of the base, project from the hang- Y ends for said shafts, and hangers 5 are simi- Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 larly suspended from shafts 4'. Each of the hangers 5 carries a horizontal shaft E at its lower end, and a horizontal shaft 6' is carried at the lower end of each of the hangers 5', shafts 5 and 6' being parallel with shafts 4, 4'., Each o f said hangers 5 is formed with a pair of downwardly projecting, horizontally spaced ears 8, with axially aligned openings in said pair, in which openings the shafts 6 are secured with the outer ends of said shafts projecting oppositely outwardly of said ears (Fig. 4). Also, the hangers 5 are each provided with a pair of downwardly projecting, horizontally spaced ears 8', with axially aligned openings in said pair in which openings the 0D- posite ends of shafts 6' are secured (Figs. 2, 3). Pivotally suspended `at its upper end from the .ends of one of the shafts 6 that are outwardly of ears 8 of said hanger, are a pair of spaced, opposed'plates 9, hereinafter referred to as the supporting plates, and a similar pair of spaced opposed plates 9', are pivotally suspended from the other shaft 6 that is carried by the other hanger `5, in the same manner as plating. From the shaft 6' carried by the hanger 5 that is ad- `jacent plates 9, is pivotally suspended a pair of opposed plates ID, which will be termed power plates, to distinguish from the supporting plates, and from the other shaft 6 is also pivotally suspended a pair of power plates lll. The plates I0, l0' are suspended from the portion of shafts 6' disposed between ears 8'. Since plates Il), I0 adjacent opposite ends of the base, are supported on the portion of each of shafts E' that is between ears B', the plates of each pair are connected at their upper ends by a cross member ll through which shafts 6', respectively, extend.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there is a pair of opposed ,supporting plates 9, 9' at each end of the machine and a pair of power plates I9, IU are also at each end ofthe machine, the latter pairs being positioned outwardly of the pairs 9, 9', with respect to the space between the two pair of supporting plates 9, 9'. Also the supporting plates of each pair correspends with the supporting plates of the other pair with respect to the relative positions of the plates on shafts 6, and the same is true as to the relative positions of the power plates lll, lll on shafts 6'.

A pair of horizontally spaced, vertical Arows of vertically spaced, horizontally elongated bars eX- tend from supporting plates 9 toward plates 9 at the other end of the machine. The bars of one row correspond to the bars of the other row, as to position, shape and dimension. The upper bar I2 of one row is secured to the inner side of one of the plates 9, by bolts I3, or any other suitable means, which bar is relatively wide vertically, with respect to the vertical widths of remaining bars of the row therebelow, although all bars are of substantially the same horizontal thickness. Said remaining bars of said row, I5, I6, I1, in order of their position in the row, cornmencing with bar I2, are substantially square in cross-section and are spaced apart, vertically, between adjacent pairs thereof, a distance slightly greater than the vertical thickness of each of said remaining bars. Also bar I is spaced from bar I2 a similar distance, and each of the bars I5, IG, I1 is secured at one end to the inner side of the same plate 9 to which bar I2 is secured as by bolts I4 or other suitable means.

The other row of bars are secured at one of their ends to the inner side of the other plate 9 of said pair of supporting plates, the bars of said other row being numbered I2', I5', I6', I1 and of corresponding shape, spacing, and size to the similarly numbered plates in the first described row. Bolts I3 secure bar I2 to said plate and bolts Iii secure the other bars I5 to I1' to said plate.

The bars of both of the above described rows extend freely past plates 9' and continue to the pair of power plates I' at the other end of the machine to which they are secured by bolts similar to the bolts at the other ends of the bars.

Between adjacent pairs of bars I2, I5|5, IIE-I5, I1 of one row, are horizontal bars I8 to 20 that are similar in shape and size to the bars I5 to I1, and between adjacent pairs of bars I2', I5'-I5', I6'-I6, I1' are bars I5' to 25' that are similar in shape and size to bars I5 to I1'. Below the lowermost bars I1, I1', respectively, in each row of bars, are bars 2l, 2l' of about the same vertical thickness as bars I2, I 2' which are at the upper ends of said rows, said bars I2, I2', 2|, 2I' being of greater vertical thickness than the remainder of the bars in said rows.

The bars I8 to 2l are secured at one end to the one of the supporting plates 9' and bars I8 to 2l' are secured at one of their ends to the other supporting plate 9', by bolts 22, 22' similar to bolts I4, I4.

The bars I8 to ZIand I8' to 2l extend from plates 9 freely past plates 9 and are secured at their opposite ends to power plates I E. The supporting and power plates support the bars of each row spaced from each other and also space the rows apart and to prevent ingress of material to between the adjacent pairs of bars in each row, said bars are each formed with a depending lip 23 along the lower edges of the vbars on the sides thereof facing toward the area between the rows with the adjacent edges of the adjacent bars in each row cut away to accommodate the lips 23. The inner sides of the bars of the rows are in a common plane, hence the overlap of the lips 23 prevent material passing downwardly between the rows of bars from lodging between adjacent bars in the rows, there being a small space between each of the bars in each row to prevent frictional engagement between such bars.

It will be seen from the description thus far, that the bars I2, I5 to I1, and bars I2', I5' to I1' comprise two rows of bars forming one set, which are adapted for simultaneous and similar oscillatory movement from one pair of hangers E, 5' while bars I8 to 2| and I3' to 2l' alternate with the bars of the said one set, and form a second set of bars adapted for simultaneous and similar oscillatory movement from the other pair of hangers 5, 5', which separate pairs of hangers each consist of one of the hangers 5 at one end of the machine and one of the hangers 5' at the opposite end thereof.

Between the pairs of hangers 5, 5' that are at opposite ends of the machine, the bars of the set that includes bars I2, I2' are held in spaced relation by side plates 2d to which said bars are bolted, and the bars of the set that includes bars I3, IS are held in spaced relation by side plates 25 to which they are bolted.

The power plates II), which connect the ends of the set of bars that includes bars I8, I8' etc., are so designated by reason of the fact that a connecting rod 2S is pivotally secured to said plates at one end by means of a shaft 21 extending between said plates, and the opposite end of said rod is driven to oscillate the set of bars to which plates I0 are secured. This means for actuating said connecting rod comprises a crank pin 28, with which the opposite end of rod 26 is connected in the usual manner. Shaft 29 in which the crank is formed is driven by a motor 3B or pulley or any other suitable source of power (Fig. 6). Of course, eccentrics may be used instead of cranks.

The power plates IS' are similarly connected with a drive shaft 29' through 2B', connecting rod 25 and shaft 21', and as plates IIJ connect with the ends of the set of bars including bars I2, I2', I5, I5', etc., it will be seen that simultaneous rotation of shafts 29, 25 will result in both sets of bars reciprocating oppositely when the cranks are opposite.

In order to cause reciprocation of the two sets of bars oppositely at all times, said cranks are rst positioned with their maximum throws outwardly or inwardly and then shafts 29, 29 are connected for simultaneous rotation at the same speed by means of bevel gears 3|, 3| on said shafts respectively positioned in driving engagement with bevel gears 32, 32' on the ends of a power transmitting shaft 33, as best seen in the diagrammatic View (Fig. 6).

Extending across the space between bars I2, I2' and secured at their opposite ends to said bars, are relatively small diameter, cylindrical pins Se, which pins are in a horizontal row and relatively widely spaced apart so as to permit reception of full bunches of raisins therebetween.

A row of pins 35 is disposed next below the row of pins 3A, which pins 35 are secured at their ends to bars I8, I 3', and these pins are spaced apart a lesser distance than the spacing between pins 3d. Pins 35 extend between bars I5, I5' with a still lesser spacing therebetween than that of pins 35, and the pairs of opposed bars I9, I9'-I, IEP-20, 20L-I1, I1'-2I, 2|' that are successively disposed below bars, I5, I5', respectively, carry pins 31, 33, 39, 4I), 4I, extending across the space between said pairs, which pins, in each row, are equally spaced apart a lesser distance than the spacing between pins 35. Fig. 5 best illustrates this arrangement. The pins in all the rows are preferably of substantially the same diameter, and should not be too large nor too small. Pins of a diameter of about one-quarter to three-eighths have been found to be satisfactory, but if too large or too small, the results, later explained, are not as desirable as where the preferred sized pins are employed. Also, the spacing between adjacent rows of pins is preferably about one inch. A spacing between the pins 34 of about six inches with a spacing of about two inches between the pins of row 31 and those of theV rows therebelow, is preferable. The drawings, Fig. show the pins with the hangers supporting the twosets of bars vertical, or at a point intermediate the ends of the strokes of the eccentrics; With this arrangement, bunches of raisins dropped to the space between the opposed bars that carry said pins vcannot drop directly through said'space, without being obstructed by the pins of one row or another.

Also, fly wheels 45, 45' are preferably provided on shafts' 29, 29', respectively.

In operation, the bunches of raisins are fed to the space between the opposed sets of bars over the uppermost row of pins 34 by any suitable means, such as a feed hopper d6 (Fig. 6) or feed conveyor, or by any other suitable manner, the pins 3d, 36, 38, and 4t being moved in a generally oscillatory manner, by a source of power such as motor 35i, with alternate rows of pins 35,31, 39, il moving oppositely. This movement, while described as being oscillatory, is substantially reciprocatory due to the relatively small movement and the length of the hangers. This movement is relatively fast, so that the bunches of raisins or raisins with long stems attached thereto, cannot f-all freely past the several rows of pins without being obstructed by the bars of several of the oppositely moving rows of pins. The raisins are thus pulled from the stems without injury to the raisins, and the stems are broken up into small pieces. The broken stems, raisins and any foreign particles, such as rocks, dirt, etc., all pass through the machine past the rows of pins for subsequent separation by conventional separators. Ordinarily, the raisins are then passed to a raisin capping machine where the cap stems are removed.

In the past, the raisins and stems with foreign material, were passed between corrugated surfaces or screens, which were moved relatively in the planes thereof, for removing the stems. rlhe objectionable features of such apparatus is that the raisins are injured by tearing the iiesh, and the dirt, stems, etc., become imbedded in said raisins, thus producing mutilated and dirty raisins that do not keep well, and are sticky and from which it is extremely diflicult to remove the foreign material. With our apparatus, these objections are overcome and the capacity of the machine is greater than by the old methods, since the raisins, upon being freed from the stems, immediately drop by gravity, past the pins to a receiving conveyor or hopper, for subsequent handling.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A raisin stemmer comprising a plurality of spaced, superposed rows of spaced, horizontally extending, substantially parallel rods with the rods of the rows extending generally in the same direction, means supporting alternate rows of rods for movement oppositely in the direction in which the rows extend, means for causing said movement, means for feeding bunches of raisins by gravity to the spaces between the rods of adjacent rows, whereby said bunches will be engaged between the rods of said adjacent rows during such movement for removing the raisins from the stems, the means supporting said alternate rows of rods, including elongated bars at opposite ends of the rods of said alternate rows and hangers at opposite ends of said bars pivotally connected to said bars for pivotally supporting said bars for generally oscillatory movement, said alternate rows of rods being pivoted on identical axes for maintaining constant spaced relation between said alternate rows of rods during movement thereof.

2. A raisin stemmer comprising a plurality of` corresponding pairs of spaced, horizontally eX- tending, parallel bars with the bars of said pairs disposed in vertical rows, spaced rods extending between the corresponding pairs of bars and secured at their opposite ends thereto, means supporting alternate pairs of bars for generally reciprocatory movement as a unit relative to the pairs vof bars therebetween which are similarly supported in direction longitudinally of said bars, means for causing said movement including crank means connected with said alternate pairs of bars, means for feeding bunches of raisins to between the rods extending between the bars of said rows, whereby, upon said movement of said bars said bunches will be engaged between the rods for removing the raisins from the stems.

3. A raisin stemmer comprising a plurality of pairs of separated parallel bars in separate horizontal planes, spaced horizontal and substantially parallel rods connecting said pairs of bars, means mounting said pairs of bars in superposed, spaced relation for generally reciprocatory motion of the pairs of bars and rods mounted therebetween, in direction longitudinally of said bars, means for causing said movement of the adjacent pairs of bars and rods connecting therebetween in directions opposite to each other simultaneously, means for feeding bunches of raisins to said spaced rods for passage between them whereby such bunches will be engaged between the adjacent rods of the adjacent parallel bars for removing the stems during said movement.

4. A raisin stemmer comprising la plurality of' pairs of separated parallel bars in separate horizontal planes, horizontal and substantially parallel rods connecting said pairs of bars, means mounting said pairs of bars in sup-erposed spaced relation for generally reciprocatory motion of the pairs of bars and rods mounted therebetween, in direction longitudinally of said bars, means for causing said movement, the rods connecting the uppermost pair of bars being more widely spaced from each other than the rods of the pairs of bars therebelow, and there being not less than four pairs of said bars, means for feeding bunches of raisins to the rows from above said uppermost pair of bars for falling of said bunches by gravity to between the rods between the pairs of bars and therepast, whereby such bunches will be engaged between the rods between adjacent pairs of bars for removing the raisins from the stems during said movement.

5. A raisin stemmer comprising a Vertical passageway having sectional opposed lateral side walls, said lateral walls comprising pairs of parallel, superposed bars, one bar of each pair constituting a section of each of said opposed walls, said bars being formed with depending flanges on their lower edges facing said opposed side wall overlapping the bar adjacent thereto and immediately below to prevent ingress of falling material in said passageway to between adjacent bars, spaced horizontal and substantially parallel rods connecting said pairs of bars, means mounting said pairs of bars for generally reciprocatory motion of the pairs of bars and rods mounted therebetween, relatively, in direction longitudinally of said bars, means for causing said movement,

means for feeding of bunches of raisins to said spaced rods for passage between them whereby such bunches will be engaged between the adjacent rods of the adjacent parallel bars for removing the stems during said movement.

6. In a device as described in claim 5, said means mounting said bars for movement including pivots and connecting rods connecting said pivots with alternate pairs of bars, for suspending said alternate pairs of bars from said pivots.

7. In a device as described in claim 5, said means mounting said bars for movement including pivots and connecting rods connecting said pivots with alternate pairs of bars for suspending said alternate pairs of bars from said pivots, said pivots being disposed in the same horizontal planes for maintaining constant spaced vertical relation between said adjacent pairs of bars during movement thereof.

8. A raisin stemmer comprising `a plurality of pairs of separated parallel bars in separate horizontal planes, spaced horizontal and substantially parallel rods connecting said pairs of bars, means pivotally suspending alternate pairs of said bars substantially horizontal for movement of the pairs of bars so suspended, oppositely longitudinally of said bars, means for causing said movement, means for feeding bunches of raisins to the spaces between the rods whereby said bunches will be engaged between the adjacent rods of adjacent pairs of bars during said movement for removing the raisins from the stems.

WALTER K. HINES. THOMAS W. W. FORREST. 

